Sunday 13 August 2017

Sunday Snap – A pier in two parts



We had a trip to Paris for last week's Sunday Snap. I asked what was the name of the famous Parisian tower and the answer is

Eiffel Tower

Scaling the heights with the right answer last week were Susan, Kara and Soma.

For this week I have another in our pier series as has become traditional for the anniversary week of Sunday Snap – this week marks the third anniversary of me sharing my photographs and the stories behind them. This pier is the third to be built on this spot on the Kent coast between Whistable and Margate.

The first pier was erected in 1830 when two businessmen realised the potential of the sea trade coming round this part of the coast. A landing stage was built far enough out at sea to make it beyond the low tide mark in order to allow passenger paddle steamers. As this original structure was made of wood it was badly damaged by naval shipworm and ended up being demolished in 1871. By 1873 a new, shorter pier had been built in just four months. This had a theatre pavilion which the owners could rent out to make money, plus shops and a restaurant.

The pier was rebuilt again in 1895 when the then owners decided it wanted a bigger, better and longer pier. This wasn't completed until 1899. At the end of the 3,787 ft pier was a restaurant which could be reached by riding on the electric tramway at a penny a time. The Grand Pavilion could seat 1,000 people and became known as the home of the local roller hockey club. It was a craze that was to flourish throughout Kent and this venue was known as the 'Cathedral of Rink Hockey' as it had hosted both the first European and World Championships.

During WWII, like many piers, sections of the pier were removed due to the threat of German invasion and it being used as a landing stage. The compensation payment received after the war wasn't enough to reinstate the steel posts and wooden bridges were put in place. This was the start of the decline of the pier as without the steel posts it became increasingly susceptible to storm damage. By 1980 the remaining section from the pier pavilion to the pier head landing stage was dismantled. The landing stage was never taken down due to the cost of removing it but remarkably survives to this day. The front section of the pier was reopened in 2012 as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Since then further work has been done on the pier so it now again a thriving tourist attraction with retail units, boating pool and helter skelter. This week's question is

Where is this pier?

We were joined last week by Susan and a trip to see Lego Brick City. On the lake Sue has been for an evening paddle.

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Sunday Snap

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3 comments:

  1. I have no idea on this one. Looks pretty though x

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  2. Herne Bay! My home town ❤️

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  3. I don't know the answer, although I did think it was Herne because of the location. I've not visited for a few weeks and I've so missed your 'stories' who knew that piers could have such history.

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